Search found 72 matches

by global_nomad
Mon Mar 27, 2017 4:55 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Feeling anxious/sad
Replies: 15
Views: 33222

Re: Feeling anxious/sad

This is totally normal even for us veteran international educators. I recently signed at new school for next year (this will be my 6th) and I was initially thrilled, but then I've been recently having some buyers remorse. I know I'll snap out of it as my departure date nears.
by global_nomad
Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:17 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is this really a career anymore? Economists, can you answer?
Replies: 95
Views: 1197157

Re: Is this really a career anymore? Economists, can you ans

senator wrote:

>
> Money IS unfortunately extremely important. I hope you don't have to find
> that out the hard way. For example, you having to eat dog food in
> "retirement" while your school heads all are living like Kings
> and Queens.
>
> Just talk to someone who has the misfortune to get sick and racks up crazy
> medical bills that their school's shitty health insurance won't cover or
> will only reimburse AFTER a stack of paperwork and months of waiting. If it
> should happen to you, you'll soon be singing a different tune.
>
>
> You can be a great and passionate teacher AND be smart and responsible
> enough to make money. So stop preaching foolish and irresponsible advice to
> others who may actually be naive or inexperienced enough to believe your
> silliness.

I agree with Senator. I'm not sure why having financial goals so that one can be prepared for an emergency and have a good retirement someday would be a "mystery" to anyone. Sounds pretty responsible to me. I know no one will be in a position to support me in my retirement. And I don't want to "live on the dole" as my dear grandmother used to say. Perhaps Thames has a trust fund waiting for her- good on her of she does but most people don't, unfortunately.

What's a "mystery" to me is when certain teachers criticize other teachers for even thinking about money, wanting to have a good lifestyle, and save money. And let's be clear, even at the very top paying international schools, you will never be rich as compared to other professions.

But to get back to the original theme of this thread, I have noticed that many of the Tier 1 schools of 10 years ago, have cut benefits and/or cut way down on raises. It seems that many school boards think that international teachers "make too much money" and cut back. And there has been an influx of garbage schools with poor packages- but they still get desperate teachers whose only goal is a "nice lifestyle."
by global_nomad
Sat Feb 11, 2017 9:51 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Include a picture? Walter?
Replies: 15
Views: 36785

Re: Include a picture? Walter?

I agree that most schools prefer a photo and many specifically ask for one. I, personally, believe that a photo of the whole family is a nice touch.
by global_nomad
Fri Feb 10, 2017 5:41 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Include a picture? Walter?
Replies: 15
Views: 36785

Re: Include a picture? Walter?

Walter wrote:
> @VA75 Recruiters expect that you will attach a photo to your resume. It
> doesn't have to be passport in style, but err on the side of formality -
> rather than a selfie taken just as you emerge from the pub.

I just spit out my beverage! Hilarious, Walter!
by global_nomad
Thu Feb 09, 2017 4:09 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Credit cards abroad?
Replies: 31
Views: 55014

Re: Credit cards abroad?

Joe- In the foreign country where I am living as an expat, they won't let those with a "temporary" ID apply for credit cards (the banks won't accept your application). All foreigners with work visas have temporary ID's issued that need to be renewed yearly (after the work visa has been renewed). So unless you get permanent residency, you can't get a local credit card here. I do hear there are ways around that like buying property though.
by global_nomad
Mon Feb 06, 2017 8:04 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How to handle a tricky ? from HR
Replies: 7
Views: 14674

Re: How to handle a tricky ? from HR

Absolutely say you've applied to other schools. Kind of a no-brainer....
by global_nomad
Thu Feb 02, 2017 5:08 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Finding the right 'fit' for a teaching couple
Replies: 6
Views: 13153

Re: Finding the right 'fit' for a teaching couple

This is interesting as I have never heard a boarding school described as "Tier 1." I am ignorant of jobs in these types of schools, though. Doesn't a boarding school mean you basically have to supervise (babysit) students after hours and weekends regularly?
by global_nomad
Sun Jan 29, 2017 8:30 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Cambridge Fair Updates
Replies: 19
Views: 39426

Re: Cambridge Fair Updates

senator wrote:
> I agree with Joe.
>
> One of the main reasons I got out of IE was that as I got older, I just
> started to despise having to "play the game" with administrators.
> many of whom had years less experience than I had.
>
> I once had to listen to this cute, empty-headed little muffin who was a
> first year assistant principal at a school in the ME and who had NEVER
> worked out of the U.S before as she questioned me on how I would handle the
> stresses of working overseas!
>
> At my last fair I finally said Screw this, and just ignored my mailbox, put
> my suit in the closet. and spent the 3 days seeing friends.
>
> Job fairs are archaic and unnecessary now and are held solely to make money
> for Search, Iss, etc. and to give school heads and admin a paid vacation
> and, when in Bangkok, a yearly chance to get their bells rung.

I agree with Senator's points that fairs are a money-making thing for the recruiting agencies and the most administrators love the perk of these trips (a little too much in my opinion). On the other hand, I do prefer face-to-face interviews in general and seem to do better with them compared to Skype. For whatever reason, I present better in person.
by global_nomad
Tue Jan 24, 2017 6:45 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: School in another country that insists on an in-person visit
Replies: 12
Views: 22125

Re: School in another country that insists on an in-person v

I had this exact same situation happen to me 15 years ago with a Tier 1 school. I was in my 20s, a young educator with only a few years experience, and I was just trying to break into international education. After exchanging a couple of emails, instead of a phone interview, they requested that I fly to them at my own expense. I simply couldn't afford it at that point in my life. Very reluctantly, I sat down and wrote the following email (thinking I was losing my big chance at breaking into a fantastic international school), which I am glad I saved:

Thank-you for the quick reply. As I mentioned before, I am VERY interested in the (specific teaching) position. I believe I would be a good fit at (1st tier international school). However,I didn't realize that I would need to fly over to (1st tier international school) to interview in person at my expense.

Nonetheless, I researched airfares through travel agents and via the web, and have not found any reasonable airfares for the weekend of June 9th. They are quite expensive due to the short notice. I am hesitant to take on this type of expense when I have not even been offered a job. Is there any other alternative you would consider in lieu of me traveling to (fantastic city where the IS is located) at my expense? Would (the Director of school) consider traveling to (my city) for the interview?

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Young, Naive Teacher

I find it particularly hilarious that I asked if the Director would fly to ME for the interview! LOL! I was lucky they were desperate to fill the position as it was June already. They eventually backed down and settled for a couple of phone interviews.
by global_nomad
Sat Jan 21, 2017 9:53 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Questions about entering Administration...
Replies: 8
Views: 18577

Re: Questions about entering Administration...

alexout wrote:
>
> "I really don't think a 20 year teacher can contribute as much to the
> classroom as someone who has taught 10 years."
>
> Wow. You're not ready. You need a lot more experience teaching if you make
> that kind of comment. Maybe it's a reflection of the experience you've had
> and the people you've worked with. Maybe you've had bad luck with your
> colleagues. You haven't been at this for very long. Try teaching in tier 1
> schools and having those pedagogical conversations with teachers who have
> more experience than you do - teaching all kinds of kids, living through
> all kinds of experiences, and raising children of their own. You might
> learn something. Maybe then you can become an administrator, whose job is
> to understand and support teachers, not write them off based on having too
> much experience in the classroom.

Yes, agree with Alexout that this is a naive statement. From my experience, in general, teachers with more experience are better overall teachers than those with less (everything else being equal). Besides, the most effective teachers are always learning and bringing new skills and approaches into the classroom. You said you are working at a Tier 3 school, so perhaps the veteran teachers there aren't as skilled, as presumably if they were better teachers, they would be at better schools (while also acknowledging that a minority of veteran teachers prefer Tier 3s for better work/life balance, less pressure, etc.). My guess is that when you get to the better schools and you'll see some fantastic veteran teachers (some that might even teach you a thing or 2).

Now to your question- Given your goals, take the Tier 3 Admin job for sure. I've worked primarily in Tier 1 schools and many teachers with whom I have worked and who eventually transitioned in admin. left Tier 1 schools for an admin. positions at Tier 2 or 3 schools. It's not unusual at all to start in admin at a poor quality school and move your way up.
by global_nomad
Sat Jan 21, 2017 9:42 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Opinions? Should I accept?
Replies: 5
Views: 11433

Re: Opinions? Should I accept?

Yes, be very careful about getting information from only one source. Even the so-called "best" international schools in the world have teachers who are negative about working there.
by global_nomad
Thu Jan 19, 2017 7:20 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Recruiting agencies...Which is best?
Replies: 79
Views: 130387

Re: Recruiting agencies...Which is best?

I was with ISS from the early 2000s until about 2012. It was apparent by then that Search had greatly surpassed ISS in terms of quality and quantity of schools. I hated to have to move all my stuff to Search, since it was very inconvenient but in the end it was the right choice for me.
by global_nomad
Thu Jan 19, 2017 7:09 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Firing
Replies: 15
Views: 32165

Re: Firing

Firings (on the spot) have been rare in my international career as well, but both were deserved- HS teachers having inappropriate "relations" with HS students. If it would have happened in my home country, they would have been arrested. Many non-renewals and of course, runners.
by global_nomad
Sun Jan 15, 2017 11:38 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: American Teacher for Europe
Replies: 40
Views: 62954

Re: American Teacher for Europe

I don't necessarily disagree with Thames. I guess, in the end, there are people who live more for the "1st world life style" with little or no savings potential and then those who want to save money for a comfortable retirement, while having a great 3rd world lifestyle. From my experience, the teachers in the former group, though, tend to have other forms of income, have already made their money earlier in their career, or have family money. Thinking about retirement and having money to take full advantage of all a city has to offer isn't a concern for them.

But then there are teachers, a huge minority from my experience, who simply "live for the day," which is a lot of fun until they hit about 50 and realize they have little or nothing for retirement (or worse, a lot of debt!). But they loved London...or Milan...or Barcelona... :-) To each their own. But I'm in the pragmatic camp, without family money, who would recommend that the CEESA schools in Prague, Warsaw, Budapest or even Moscow are a better fit for most teachers.